With schools open for vulnerable and key worker children even in lockdown, REACT’s school contract cleaning service keeps everyone safe.
It’s been an extraordinary time for schools over the last twelve months. With a new national lockdown in England starting last week, most pupils and teaching staff are now staying home. But schools are remaining open for vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers. That makes it all the more important to ensure that schools are kept clean and safe for all those who do attend daily. We’ve discussed previously the importance of cleaning and good hygiene for helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In this blog, we’re focusing in on REACT’s school contract cleaning service as a great way of delivering just that.
Thousands of schools, millions of things to clean
We work with local authorities, academy chains and private education institutions across England. We’ve done the maths and the numbers are quite something. There are some 25,900 schools across England and Wales. Across all these educational institutions, we calculate there are over 12 million desks and chairs to keep clean in classrooms and lecture halls. There are a smaller number of tables, chairs and benches in dining halls across the sector, but these still run into the millions. And of course, there are a similar number of toilets and sinks in washrooms too.
And in terms of ensuring Covid safety, there are some specific issues for schools. Many of these are not directly related to cleaning, although they do have an impact on the need to clean. For instance, with fewer pupils on site during the lockdown, social distancing might seem like less of a concern. However, primary schools account for 80% of the total number of facilities. As primaries are normally smaller buildings, it can be more difficult to deliver social distancing while maintaining dedicated spaces for different year groups. Therefore, it makes it particularly important to undertake an effective regular janitorial cleaning programme.
The practicalities of school contract cleaning
We’re specialists when it comes to cleaning in the education sector. We know that there are many important considerations. We deploy fully vetted and accredited staff, to ensure the safety of young people and school staff alike. Our regular scheduled cleaning takes place where possible outside school hours. And of course, in the light of Covid-19, one main focus for us is infection control.
Our team deploys a simple yet thorough methodology of ‘test, clean, disinfect and test again’. We swab and test a number of high-touch areas for traces of pathogen. For thorough deep cleaning and decontamination, we’ll check and prepare sanitising equipment following industry standards and will display warning signs near the area to be disinfected. We’ll deploy the correct method and equipment for each specific task. For most schools, our preferred method would likely be Ultra Low Volume ‘fogging’ (ULV). But we can use electrostatic spraying or whole room misting, if those disinfection methods are best-suited to particular facilities.
Keeping vulnerable children and valuable key workers safe
But it’s not just regular cleaning where schools can benefit from a contract approach. It’s vital for schools to have an infection control protocol for when a confirmed Covid-19 case is identified. As part of this, we can put in place a pre-agreed response process. REACT is available 24/7/365 to respond to such incidents nationwide. We’ll act as a trusted resource to perform a suitable deep clean and decontamination of potentially infected areas.
Whatever and wherever the job, schools can rely on us to keep their students and staff safe. For school contract cleaning, we’re the perfect solution and we deliver long-term savings. And at a time when we need to keep vulnerable children and valuable key workers safe, our services deliver high standards of hygiene.
To find out more about REACT Specialist Cleaning and school contract cleaning services, contact one of the team today.
Telephone: 01283 550 503
Email: info@reactplc.co.uk
Website: www.reactsc.co.uk
Post by Shaun D. Doak
Shaun is the CEO of REACT Group plc., a business dedicated to specialist cleaning, hygiene and decontamination. He is deeply committed to making sure that every one of our company’s clients receives the highest possible level of service. An expert in HVAC and commercial and industrial cleaning methodologies, Shaun has extensive experience in the facilities management and renewable services sector.